Pie Recipe #43 - Chicken Pot Pie

This savory pie takes a little work, but tastes much better than the frozen kind you buy at the grocery store. Ingredients: 3 whole chicken breasts, bone-in, skin-on (I used boneless, skinless), 3 tablespoons olive oil, kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, 5 cups chicken stock, 2 chicken bouillon cubes, 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, 2 cups yellow onions, chopped (2 onions), 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup heavy cream, 2 cups medium-diced carrots, blanched for 2 minutes, 1 )10-ounce package frozen peas (2 cups) (mine was pea-less), 1 1/2 cups frozen small whole onions, 1/2 cup minced fresh parsley leaves, or 1/4 cup dried parsley. Pastry: 3 cups all-purpose flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 cup vegetable shortening, 1/4 pound (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, diced, 1/2 to 2/3 cup ice water, 1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water, for egg wash, flaked sea salt (or kosher salt) and cracked black pepper. Instructions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place the chicken breasts on a baking sheet and rub them with olive oil. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Roast for 35-40 minutes, or until cooked through. Meanwhile, make pastry: Mix the flour, salt, and baking powder in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Add the shortening and butter and mix quickly with your fingers until each piece is coated with flour. Pulse 10 times, or until the fat is the size of peas. With the motor running, add the ice water; process only enough to moisten the dough and have it just come together. Dump the dough out onto a floured board and knead quickly into a ball. Wrap the dough in plastic and allow it to rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Remove chicken from oven and set aside until cool enough to handle, then remove the meat from the bones and discard the skin. Cut the chicken into large dice. You will have 4-6 cups of cubed chicken. In a small saucepan, heat the chicken stock and dissolve the bouillon cubes in the stock. In a large pot, melt the butter and saute the onions over medium-low heat for 10-15 minutes, until translucent. Add the flour and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Add the hot chicken stock to the sauce. Simmer over low heat for 1 more minute, stirring, until thick. Add 2 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and heavy cream. Add the cubed chicken, carrots, peas, onions and parsley. Mix well. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Divide the filling equally among 4 ovenproof bowls. Remove dough from refrigerator and divide into 4 equal portions. Roll each piece into an 8-inch circle. Brush the outside edges of each bowl with the egg wash, then place the dough on top. Trim the circle to 1/2-inch larger than the top of the bowl. Crimp the dough to fold over the side, pressing it to make it stick. Brush the dough with egg wash and make 3 slits in the top. Sprinkle with sea salt and cracked pepper. Continue with remaining 3 portions. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 1 hour, or until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbling hot. Makes 4 individual pies. I found this recipe on foodnetwork.com. "As easy as pie!"